Hao Meng stared at Xiao Fan before him in shock and fury. This was the closest he had ever come to death.
Ever since becoming the third commander of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, he had rarely taken part in battle himself.
He had thought nothing of leading this expedition to hunt down a petty thief. The fellow was only a Six-Star Dou Zhe. With so many men under his command, once they found the thief's trail, sheer numbers would overwhelm him without Hao Meng having to lift a finger.
So he had been enjoying himself. He had even brought along his lover from the Fragrant Pavilion to give her a taste of life out here-and let her experience his masculine prowess along the way.
Never had he imagined that someone would slip into his tent at a moment like this and nearly kill him.
Had he not been experienced enough to throw the woman out in time and buy himself a moment, he would already have been a corpse on the ground.
Looking at the still-naked Hao Meng, Xiao Fan knew he had to end this quickly. If he delayed until their encirclement took shape, escaping would become difficult.
With that thought, Xiao Fan drew his Thousand-Flame Spear and charged at Hao Meng.
"Black Tier Dou Technique, Sand Shield!"
Watching Xiao Fan charge toward him, Hao Meng roared and immediately unleashed his defensive Dou Technique.
Sand Shield had carried Hao Meng through countless dangers and saved his life many times. He had absolute confidence in this technique.
Yellow Dou Qi formed a man-sized sand shield in front of him. With the shield protecting him, Hao Meng regained his confidence and said to Xiao Fan, "Brat, I never thought you'd dare charge into my camp. Even the King of Heaven himself couldn't save you today."
Then he let out a couple of savage laughs.
In his mind, Xiao Fan was merely a Six-Star Dou Zhe, while he was a mighty Eight-Star Dou Zhe. Xiao Fan had only caught him off guard earlier. Once he got serious, dealing with Xiao Fan would be as easy as reaching out and grabbing him.
Besides, he had so many men outside. Even if he could not win, once they surrounded Xiao Fan, the boy would still be a lamb awaiting slaughter.
At that thought, Hao Meng watched Xiao Fan rush toward him with a mocking gaze. He could already picture Xiao Fan kneeling and begging for mercy.
He swore he would not be satisfied until he had thoroughly tortured Xiao Fan. He would never let him die so easily.
Under his mocking gaze, Xiao Fan thrust his spear into the shield he took such pride in.
Yet the shield he believed indestructible began to crack the instant it touched Xiao Fan's Thousand-Flame Spear.
"Impossible!"
The mockery in Hao Meng's eyes gradually turned to terror, and even his scream broke into a shrill, strained pitch.
His Black Tier Dou Technique had protected him through so many crises. Xiao Fan could not possibly shatter his shield in a single blow. Even if his strength was one star higher than the intelligence had reported, he was still only a Seven-Star Dou Zhe.
Yet the Dou Technique of an Eight-Star Dou Zhe could not withstand a single strike from him.
That left only one possibility: the spear in Xiao Fan's hands was a secret treasure.
Realizing that Xiao Fan could rely on a spear to break his shield so effortlessly, Hao Meng's gaze gradually filled with greed.
If I could get that spear...
Hao Meng stared at Xiao Fan and said coldly, "Is that spear what gives you the confidence to fight someone above your level?"
Then, with a mocking air, as though granting him charity, he said, "Brat, hand that spear over to me, and I can let bygones be bygones. I can even recommend you for membership in the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. How about it?"
Seeing that Xiao Fan still refused to say a word, Hao Meng snarled, "Brat, don't spurn a kindness. I'm an Eight-Star Dou Zhe, and I have so many men outside. You can't beat me."
His only answer was Xiao Fan's increasingly rapid spear strikes. The tip swept past Hao Meng's cheeks several times, leaving deep, bloody gashes on his face.
As Xiao Fan's attacks grew fiercer, Hao Meng began to feel afraid.
Years of drinking and debauchery had stripped him of the fighting spirit of his youth. His position as third commander rested solely on the battle merits he had accumulated when he was young.
Usually, with his status as third commander, who in Qing Shan would dare provoke him? Even if someone did, his strength as an Eight-Star Dou Zhe meant that anyone short of a Dou Shi would show the Wolf Head Mercenary Group some respect and shake hands to make peace.
But this time, he had run into a tough opponent. Though Xiao Fan was only a Seven-Star Dou Zhe, he had ample combat experience. Worse still, the spear in his hands pierced everything in its path. Hao Meng feared he really would die here.
He hoped Xiao Fan would stop. He was even willing to hold his men back and let Xiao Fan leave.
But damn it, Xiao Fan would not say a single word.
He gave him no chance to talk at all.
Hao Meng took his weapon, a large saber, from his Storage Ring. Yet after only a few exchanges with Xiao Fan, nicks of all sizes covered the blade, the largest as big as a grain of rice.
Looking at Xiao Fan's cold face, he knew that Xiao Fan had come to kill him.
With no other choice, Hao Meng could only fight for his life.
"Black Tier Dou Technique, Sand River!"
With a mighty shout, Hao Meng unleashed his Black Tier Dou Technique. Xiao Fan immediately felt the air around him grow viscous, and even the spear he thrust forward slowed slightly.
Then Hao Meng said, "This is a Black Tier Dou Technique. It turns everything within thirty feet of me into a sea of sand, slowing you down."
"Brat, if you retreat now, I can let bygones be bygones. How about it?"
Looking at Hao Meng, who now resembled a bird startled by the twang of a bow, Xiao Fan grinned and unleashed Startled Dragon Steps. His sluggish figure once again shot toward Hao Meng at tremendous speed.
Seeing Xiao Fan suddenly accelerate, Hao Meng felt despair well up inside him. He shouted, "Brat, if you want me dead, I'll make you pay for it!"
As he spoke, the Dou Qi inside Hao Meng began flowing backward through his meridians, and his body began swelling at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Self-detonation!
Hao Meng actually intended to blow himself up and take Xiao Fan down with him.
Unfortunately, Xiao Fan gave him no chance. Without Hao Meng's Dou Qi sustaining it, Sand River's restraint vanished. With Startled Dragon Steps boosting his speed, Xiao Fan easily pinned Hao Meng to the ground. The spear pierced Hao Meng's chest, and his body was covered in blood and wounds.
Hao Meng looked at Xiao Fan with eyes full of hatred. He hated Xiao Fan for attempting to assassinate him.
He hated Xiao Fan's attitude, too. From beginning to end, he had not uttered a word, leaving Hao Meng to sneer, mock, and urge him to surrender like a clown. The humiliation left Hao Meng choking with frustration.
Even more, he hated those useless mercenaries outside. He hated them for taking so long to come to his aid when he had been under attack all this time.
No matter how deep his hatred, Hao Meng ultimately died with that bitter frustration still inside him.
Looking at the dead Hao Meng, Xiao Fan let out a faint breath. He had not kept silent to act cold and aloof. This was his first assassination attempt, and truthfully, he had been a little nervous. He also understood that villains died from talking too much, so he had tried to end the fight as quickly as possible.
Although he had failed to kill Hao Meng in a single strike, fortunately, he had still managed to finish him off.
Xiao Fan swung his spear and wrote several large words beside the corpse.
Then he fought his way out. Without their leader, these mercenaries naturally had no intention of risking their lives to stop Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan left the camp with ease, his figure gradually disappearing into the distance.
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